KR101634368B1 - Traffic Light Sensing Device - Google Patents

Abstract

A signal lamp lighting sensing device according to the present invention is installed in each of a plurality of signals including a red signal lamp, a yellow signal lamp and a green signal lamp. The signal lamp lighting sensing device is provided so as to face a light emitting portion of the signal lamp at a position adjacent to the signal lamp, A plurality of sensing parts for sensing and generating lighting information; And a control part for receiving the lighting information and transmitting the lighting information to an external device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a traffic light sensing device,

The present invention is installed in each of a plurality of traffic lights including a red traffic light, a yellow traffic light, and a green traffic light. The traffic light is installed so as to face a light emitting portion of the traffic light at a position adjacent to the traffic light, A plurality of sensing parts; And a control part for transmitting and receiving the lighting information to thereby solve a fatal problem such as a lighting sensing error of existing traffic signal determination methods and an inconsistency with an actual lighting situation.

As IT technology has been developed radically in recent years, a variety of technologies have been applied, such as a technique to inform the traffic situation in real time and search for a fast route in cooperation with a satellite GPS device in order to use the vehicle for driving, and furthermore, The automobile age is expected to come.

In particular, in the field of unmanned automobiles, technologies for inputting and processing visual information using various sensors are attracting attention as core technologies. Among them, lighting information of traffic lights, that is, a technology for recognizing traffic signals, This is a basic and important technique, which is a technique that can be applied to prevent inadvertent signal violation or tail wiping even when the driver actually drives the vehicle.

A conventional technology for grasping the lighting information of a traffic light is a technique for determining a lighting signal by analyzing an image captured by a traffic light located ahead through a camera or the like attached to the vehicle and a technique for controlling the traffic light control signal A technique of receiving a transmission through a communication means has been used.

Korean Patent No. 1534056, "Traffic Signal Mapping and Detection" is recognized as having excellent technology to cope with unexpected situations such as recognizing traffic signal or checking the intersection condition, which is specialized in traveling around the world, leading the commercialization of unmanned vehicles A method of receiving a plurality of images, each of the plurality of images being associated with geographic location and direction information; Selecting one or more images of the plurality of images associated with the geographic location proximate the intersection by a computer; Identifying, for each selected image, red, yellow, and green objects in the selected image with the computer; Identifying the objects of the red, yellow, and green objects based on the geographic location and orientation information of the two or more selected images, in the two or more selected images; Generating, by one or more of the computers, a set of traffic signal labels based on the identified red, yellow, and green objects of bright color; And storing the three-dimensional locations of the traffic signals in a memory accessible to the computer, the method comprising the steps of: recognizing and mapping real-time traffic signals, wherein the plurality of images are one or more It is stated that it is collected by the above cameras.

When the traffic signal is recognized by a method of photographing a traffic light through a camera formed in a vehicle as in the above patent, it is difficult to determine an accurate signal if the visibility is blurred due to rain, snow, fog, etc., Which is very likely.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-282718 discloses a red traffic signal stop system in which a no-op is installed in a signal lamp at an intersection to transmit red signal lighting information to a car mounted on the vehicle to provide an alarm to the driver, Technology. In the above-mentioned patent, it is described that the no-observer described as acquiring and transmitting the red-light-on information is performing the light-on control of the traffic light including the control device as a main element. In other words, And directly transmits the control signal.

In this case, the information transmitted to the unmanned vehicle or the separate controller is control information supervised by the traffic light control device. In the event of a failure in the illumination device or the control signal transmitting device of the traffic light, the control information and the actual lighting information may be different from each other, It can cause big accident in unmanned driving.

As described above, each of the methods used for determining whether or not the signal lamp is turned on has problems such as a sensing error and inconsistency with the actual lighting. These problems are very serious when applied to manned or unmanned vehicles It is a fatal drawback that can lead to an accident. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a signal lighting sensing device that senses a traffic signal as a new method that minimizes the possibility of misunderstanding about lighting and real-time sensing of a traffic signal and reflects it in various systems related to driving of a vehicle .

It is an object of the present invention to provide a signal lamp lighting sensing device which minimizes the possibility of misunderstanding whether light is on or off by solving problems such as lighting sensation errors and inconsistencies with actual traffic signals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a signal light which has been installed in advance by simply installing a simple structure, so that it can be easily applied at low cost.

It is a further object of the present invention to make it possible to more firmly attach and detach the lid of a conventional signal lamp, thereby being maintenance-friendly.

It is a further object of the present invention to fundamentally block the possibility of an accident or the like caused by a signal or light sensing error by collecting in real time whether or not an intuitively sensed signal lamp is turned on and being provided to a running related system of an automobile.

It is a further object of the present invention to analyze and collect a pattern of a signal system based on lighting information of a traffic light, thereby making it possible to predict a signal when driving, thereby ensuring a stable driving environment.

In order to achieve the above object, a signal lamp lighting sensing apparatus according to the present invention is installed in each of a plurality of signals including a red signal lamp, a yellow signal lamp, and a green signal lamp so as to face a light emitting portion of the signal lamp at a position adjacent to the signal lamp. A plurality of sensing parts installed to sense whether a traffic light is illuminated to generate lighting information; And a control part for receiving the lighting information and transmitting the lighting information to an external device.

The sensing part may include an optical sensor module disposed to face the light emitting part of the signal lamp and sensing whether the signal lamp is on or not, And a bracket attached to the bracket.

The bracket includes a coupling plate for coupling the signal lamp shade with coupling means such as a bolt, and a connection bar extending downward from one side of the coupling plate, the coupling bar being formed at an extension end thereof so that the optical sensor module is rotatably coupled .

In addition, the bracket may be implemented as a clip including a pair of support pieces arranged on the upper and lower sides, respectively, and a round bending part connecting the support pieces, and the signal lamp shade is inserted and fixed between the support pieces And an extension extending obliquely from the bent portion to an end of the support piece, wherein the optical sensor module is formed to be engaged with the extended portion of the lower support member And the optical sensor is arranged to be inclined downward so as to face a light emitting portion of the traffic light.

In addition, the bracket is coupled to the surface of the light emitting portion of the traffic light in a state where the optical sensor is arranged to face the light emitting portion of the traffic light.

In addition, the controller includes a lighting information analysis module that receives lighting information from a plurality of sensor parts installed in each traffic light and collects and analyzes the lighting information, and a communication module that transmits information processed by the lighting information analysis module to an external device .

In addition, the lighting information analysis module may further include a lighting pattern analyzing unit that learns a lighting pattern of a traffic light based on the lighting information to form lighting pattern information.

A signal lamp lighting sensing apparatus according to the present invention comprises:

1) To solve problems such as incandescent sensing error of existing methods, inconsistency with actual traffic signals,

2) It can be implemented simply by adding a simple configuration to a conventionally installed signal lamp so that it can be easily applied at a low cost,

3) Since it can be firmly attached and detached to the conventional signal lamp shade, the maintenance becomes possible,

4) It is possible not only to prevent the possibility of accidents due to the signal light sensing error by making it possible to collect the intuitively sensed traffic lights in real time,

5) Analyzing and collecting the pattern of the signal system on the basis of the lighting information of the traffic light, making it possible to predict the signal when driving, thereby ensuring a stable traveling environment.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a signal lamp lighting sensing apparatus according to the present invention;
2A is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention. FIG.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment of the sensing part according to the present invention. FIG.
4 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention.
5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a timer display part according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in the drawings denote like elements.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an operation of a signal lamp lighting sensing apparatus according to the present invention.

1, the signal lamp lighting sensing device of the present invention is installed at a position adjacent to each signal lamp 1 installed at an intersection or the like, and senses whether each signal lamp 1 is turned on to generate lighting information. The control unit 100 controls the information by receiving the sensed lighting information and collecting or processing the sensed lighting information, and transmits the sensed lighting information to the central control server, the navigation system installed in the vehicle, And a control part 200 for transmitting to a management system or the like.

The signal lighting light sensing device having the above configuration is a new and advanced technology that can be applied intuitively to the signal light 1 installed in the road so as to accurately and quickly grasp whether the signal light 1 is lit or not. (1) A driver or an unmanned automobile management system erroneously recognizes a signal due to a blurring phenomenon or a signal transmission error, a traffic light (1), or the like, thereby blocking the possibility of judging a traffic signal different from the actual one. The running safety of the vehicle can be greatly improved.

The sensing part 100 is installed in each of a plurality of traffic lights 1 including a red traffic light, a yellow traffic light, and a green traffic light installed at an intersection or the like The direction of the sensing part 100 facing the light emitting part 1b of the traffic light 1 is slightly opposite to the light emitting part 1b of the traffic light 1. In particular, it is preferable that the signal lamp 1 is arranged to face the signal lamp 1 inside the signal lamp shade 1a provided to protect the signal lamp 1 from rain or snow, and is fixed to the signal lamp shade 1a.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a sensing part according to the present invention.

2, the sensing part 100 includes an optical sensor module 110 and a bracket 120, and the optical sensor module 110 is connected to the signal lamp (not shown) 1 to detect whether or not the signal lamp 1 is turned on, a photoelectric element for detecting an optical signal, a battery for providing basic power or a signal lamp 1 A power supply module for receiving and supplying power from the main power supply unit, and a housing for receiving and protecting the electrical components and the like. In this case, in many cases, the color of a signal to emit light for each of the signal lamps 1 is often designated. Therefore, the optical sensor module 110 is separately installed in each of the signal lamps 1, 1) can be used. Further, it is also possible to apply a color sensor for judging the color of the signal light 1 which is additionally turned on.

The bracket 120 is installed to face the light emitting portion 1b of the traffic light 1 so that the sensor module can intuitively and accurately sense whether the traffic light 1 is lit or not. 110 to be fixed to the surrounding area of the traffic light 1, preferably the traffic light shade 1a. The bracket 120 may be embodied as various embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 120 may include a coupling plate 121 for coupling the signal lamp shade 1a with a coupling means such as a bolt, The optical sensor module 110 includes a connection bar 122 extending from one side to the other and extending from the other end to an end of the connection bar 122. The connection bar 122 may be formed by adding a shaft, 122 may be formed in a spherical shape and the end of the connecting bar 122 may be rotatably received in the housing of the optical sensor module 110. In addition, Since the means is at a known level, a detailed description will be omitted.

This allows the optical sensor module 110 to be stably attached to the signal lamp shade 1a and the angle of the optical sensor module 110 can be adjusted in particular so that the light emitting portion 1b of the signal lamp 1 The optical sensor module 110 disposed on the upper side is inclined downward so that the optical sensor is directed toward the light emitting portion 1b, thereby enabling stable sensing.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the sensing part according to the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the sensing part according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a description will be made of another embodiment of the sensing part 100. The bracket 120 is implemented in a clip-like shape to install the sensing part 100 on the signal lamp shade 1a. It is possible to facilitate separation and re-installation in the event that maintenance is required.

In this case, the bracket 120 is formed in a clip shape including a supporting piece 123 and a rounding bending portion. The supporting piece 123 is arranged in parallel on the upper and lower sides, And a round bending part 124 for connecting each end of the same side so as to have elasticity to the inside is formed so that elasticity is formed in a direction opposite to each other on the upper side and the lower side, The lid 1a can be pressed.

At this time, the two supporting pieces 123 are bent inwardly from one side of each supporting piece 123 in order to further strengthen the gripping force applied to the signal lamp shade 1a, And an extended portion 123b which extends obliquely from the bent portion 123a to the end of the supporting piece 123. [ As shown in the drawing, the bent portion 123a can be formed so as to more strongly urge one side of the signal lamp shade 1a, so that the signal lamp shade 1a can be bent A receiving slit (not shown) capable of receiving the bending end of the bending portion 123a which is slightly inserted inward is formed at a portion where the bending portion 123a abuts with the bending portion 123a so that the bending portion 123a is inserted into the receiving slit, It is preferable to perform the role of being fixed.

When the bracket 120 is formed as in the above-described embodiment, one side of the optical sensor module 110 is coupled to the extended portion 123b of the lower support piece 123, It is most effective to arrange the light emitting portion 1b so as to incline downward toward the light emitting portion 1b. That is, the optical sensor module 110 is not difficult to face the light emitting portion 1b of the traffic light 1 without a separate turning means, and even when looking at the traffic light 1 from the outside, Thereby providing a visual satisfaction.

4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the sensing part according to the present invention.

4, the sensing part 100 of the present invention is not attached to the signal lamp shade 1a as in the two embodiments described above, but is arranged to directly contact the light emitting portion 1b of the signal lamp 1 .

In recent years, a light emitting portion 1b of a typical traffic light 1 is often realized by an LED module including a plurality of LED lights. As shown in FIG. 4, the LED light emitting surface of one or more LED lights It may be most ideal to directly mount the housing of the optical sensor module 110 fabricated in a very small size and the optical sensor housed in the housing directly facing the LED illumination. In this case, since the light sensor and the light emitting portion 1b of the signal lamp 1 are disposed so as to be in direct contact with each other with almost no separation distance, the possibility of recognition error can be fundamentally blocked and one LED illumination is shielded. Can be installed at a level that does not have a significant impact on the environment.

As described above, the sensing part 100 may be formed in various ways, and may be implemented in various embodiments under the condition that the optical sensor is installed in a direction facing the light emitting part 1b of the traffic light 1 will be.

The control part 200 collects and analyzes the lighting information transmitted from the sensing part 100 and transmits the same to an external device. The control part 200 includes a lighting information analysis module 210 and a communication module 220 .

The lighting information analysis module 210 receives lighting information from a plurality of sensor parts installed in the respective traffic lights 1, collects and analyzes the lighting information, and receives lighting information transmitted from the sensing part 100 in real time, A real-time lighting information collecting unit 211 for building and collecting an information database, a lighting pattern analyzing unit 211 for learning the lighting patterns of the traffic lights 1 based on the lighting information in the lighting information database, And a timer setting unit 213 for receiving the lighting pattern information and generating flashing time counting information of each of the signal lamps 1.

5 is a perspective view showing a timer display part of the present invention.

5, the lighting information analysis module 210 includes a lighting pattern analysis unit 212 and a timer setting unit 213. The lighting signal analysis unit 210 includes a lighting pattern analyzing unit 212 and a timer setting unit 213, The sensing device generates lighting pattern information including a blinking pattern of each of the signals through the lighting pattern analyzer 212. In the timer setting unit 213, And generates flashing time counting information for calculating whether a specific signal that is turned on at a predetermined time, that is, a predetermined number of seconds or a few minutes, is to be extinguished, and drives the timer display part 300 based on the generated flashing time counting information.

The timer display part 300 is a display panel that emits a specific number in real time using an LED bulb or the like and is a display panel that is disposed adjacent to a traffic light such as the top of a traffic light or the bottom or side of a traffic light, And the time for counting based on the blinking time counting information is displayed in real time. The timer display part 300 can guide the driver to the scheduled signal blinking time by counting the remaining time until the currently turned-on signal lamp disappears, thereby substantially preventing the signal blurring and tailing caused by carelessness It can be a sure measure.

The communication module 220 transmits the information processed by the lighting information analysis module 210 to the external device other than the timer display part 300. The external device may be a signal lighting lighting sensing device of the present invention, A separate central control server that integrally manages traffic light 1 lighting information in cooperation with each other or a travel assistance system such as a navigation system related to a vehicle which must actually receive and use the above lighting information, A management system, etc., and various devices requiring lighting information of the other signal lamps 1 may be applied.

The communication means used by the communication module 220 may be wired communication or wireless communication. It is more preferable to use wireless communication means such as 3G, LTE, Wi-fi, and RF communication. It goes without saying that it can be used as an auxiliary.

As described above, the configuration and operation of the signal lamp lighting sensing apparatus according to the present invention are described in the above description and drawings, but the description of the present invention is not limited to the above description and drawings, It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1: Traffic light 1a: Traffic light
1b: emitting region 100: sensing part
110: optical sensor module 120: bracket
121: coupling plate 122: coupling bar
123: Support piece 123a:
123b: extension part 124: round bending part
200: Control part 210: Lighting information analysis module
211: real-time lighting information collecting unit 212: lighting pattern analyzing unit
213: timer setting unit 220: communication module
300: Timer display part

Claims (8)

As a signal lamp lighting sensing device,
And an optical sensor disposed in each of a plurality of signals including a red signal lamp, a yellow signal lamp, and a green signal lamp, the optical sensor being disposed to face a light emitting portion of the signal lamp to sense whether the signal lamp is on, A sensing part coupled to the optical sensor module and detachably coupled to a signal lamp shade having one side protruding from an upper end of the signal lamp;
And a control part for receiving the lighting information and transmitting the lighting information to an external device,
The bracket
A pair of support pieces arranged on the upper and lower surfaces of the signal lamp shade and a round bending part surrounding the ends of the signal lamp shade while connecting the pair of support pieces, A bending portion which is inserted and fixed in the insertion direction of the signal lamp shade and which is bent in the opposite direction in which the signal lamp shade is located at the end portion of each of the supporting pieces, and an extension portion that extends obliquely from the bending portion to the end of the support piece,
Characterized in that the optical sensor module is arranged to be inclined downward so as to be coupled with the extension part extending from the lower side of the signal lamp shade of the pair of supporting pieces so that the optical sensor faces the light emitting part of the signal lamp Lighting sensing device. The method according to claim 1,
The control part includes:
A lighting information analysis module for receiving lighting information from a plurality of sensor parts installed in respective traffic lights, collecting and analyzing the lighting information,
And a communication module for transmitting information processed by the lighting information analysis module to an external device. 3. The method of claim 2,
The lighting information analysis module includes:
Further comprising a lighting pattern analyzer for learning the lighting patterns of the traffic lights based on the lighting information to form the lighting pattern information. The method of claim 3,
The lighting information analysis module includes:
Further comprising a timer setting unit for generating blinking time counting information for calculating a blinking time counting time of a signal lamp that receives the lighting pattern information and is turned on in real time,
Wherein the signal lamp lighting sensing device further comprises a timer display part provided at a position adjacent to the signal lamp and displaying a time counted based on the blinking time counting information in real time.
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